Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-02
Mistellameuus &eadiug.
THAT TYPICAL AMERICAN.
TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.
from the Louisville Times.]

From the Louisville Times.]
About the most entertaining talker 1
have listened to for many day is Judge
James Madison Nelson, of Nyack, n. Y.
He is native of Clarke county, Kentucky.
His father, Thomas Pope Nelson, was
the first United States Minister to Tur-
key, and died while member of Con-
gress from the Winchester, Kentucky,
district. Hisgreat grandfather was Thom-
as Nelson, Jr., one of the Virginia signers
of the Declaration of Independence. Mel
son county, of which BardstOWn is the
seat, was named for this famous family.
Gen. Nelson, who was killed at the Gait
House early in the war by Gen. jeff Davis,
and his brother, Gen. Nelson, late Minis
ter to Mexico, a familiar figure in Wash
ington, are of this immediate family.
Judge James Madison Nelson went from
Kentucky to Illinois, and later to New
York, where he has repeatedly been men,
ber of the Legislature and prominent in
politics. He knew Abraham Lincoln inti-
Inately for quarter Of q century, and was
often with lin at the White House during
the trying times of the war. He is an ar
dent admirer of the ''martyr President"
but must, he says, smile at the stories
told and the efforts to manufacture demi-
god. He says Mr.. Lincoln was child Of
nature, with kindly impulses, some streaks
of genius and which compensated for his
lack of culture. The Judge tells me some
things which l am satisfied have never
appeared in print. Said he: "1n religion
Mr.. Lincoln was of about the same belief
as Bob Ingersoll, and there is no account
of his ever having changed. He went to
church few times with his family while
he was President, but so far as l have
been able to find out he remained an un-
believer. asked him once about his fer
vent Thanksgiving message, and twitted
him with being an unbeiever, in what
was published. 'Oh, said he, that is some
of Stewards nonsense, and it pleases the
wrote a book, which was published, in
of the plan Of salvation and of the divinity
of Christ.
"Is it true that Lincoln was lunatic
for a time ?" asked.
Eyes. He went crazy because he could
not marry sister of Judge Ninian Ed
wards, who was native of Logan county,
Ky., but then a Judge in Illinois. Lin
coin went stark mad on this last affair and
was confined in a log hut with roof
nailed down to prevent his escape, and
fed through a crack between the logs.
Some young Kentuckians, whose fathers
had settled them upon the rich lands of
Southern Illinois, heard that young man
from their State was shut up under such
miserable conditions, and they went up to
the lonely cabin and took him to Ken
lucky, where he was placed in an asylum
and remained for a year or eighteen
months. He afterwards married Miss
Todd, Judge Edwards sister-in-laW, you
will remember. 1t was an ill-starred
match, and she led him an unhappy life.
1t was that which gave him that Woe
begone look. Congenially mated he would
have been one of the happiest of men.
His wife fused and quarreled with him.
She had a contempt for his plebian origin,
and often taunted him with it. She was
more rabd Republican during the war
than her husband, though she was doubt
ed at the North.
GAS a.l illustration of my statement her
youngest sister, Lucy, had married an
Alabamian named White. White was
elected to the Confederate Congress and
was at Richmond. His wife was visiting
relatives in the country at the time and
came to Washington to get a pass through
the lines. She called at the White House
and sent her name to her sister, the Presi-
dents wife. Mrs. Lincoln refused to see
her. She sent her name up again and was
again refused. She went to the National
Hotel and sought Mr.. Crittenden, who
was then Senator from Kentucky,
'Why,' said he, ARE you daughter of my
old friend, Col. Todd?" and he hugged
and kissed her there and then as he would
child. 'Of course said he, you have
been to see your sister at the White
House?'
YES she replied; but she refused to
see me-"
"'Very well,' said Mr.. Crttenden; 4
will see what l can do for you with the
President. l think I can get you pass
through the lines to your husband The
next day Mr.. Crittenden went with her
to the White House and, leaving her in
the carriage, he went up to the Presidents
presence and told him that his sister-in-
law, Mrs. Lucy White, of Alabama, was
below and wanted to see him.
"What, Lou here? I'll 60 right down
to see her. Why didn't you bring her
upw
Lincoln suddenly slapped on his old
slouch hat and hastened down the stairs
to see his youngest sister-in-law. He en-
braced her and lifted her out of the car
riage. He asked her to come in, but she
declined and told him what her sister had
done the day before. She would not 60
in, for she told Mr.. Lincoln what he
would catch if she did. Lincoln told her,
of course, he would issue her the pass she
wanted, and told her, jokingy, that he
did not care how much quinine she carried
through, and that her trunk should not
be searched. You know there was then a
great to do about the smuggling of qui-
nine through the lines. Strangers it may
seem, Lincoln's -aW-three or
four of them-were very fond OF him,
while his wife treated him with ill-temper.
"Stanton gave Lincoln a great deal OF
trouble. Lincoln told me that Stanton
had been meaner to him than any man
living. He said the reason that he ap-
pointed him was long story, and that he
would tell me all about it some day, but
he never did. Mcclellan thought Stanton
was Just the man for Secretary of War,
but lie was abused and betrayed by him
as soon as he got in. Stanton was con-
stitutional scoundrel, tyrant, hypocrite
and brute. J. told Mr.. Lincoln all this one
day, and he agreed with me fully, but said
that he believed Stanton was honest, a
rare virtue in those days. The President
had said to me some time before, when l
charged an official with stealing from the
Government, that he believed that they
were all at it except Chase Secretary of
Treasury. Bates (Attorney GeneraD and
himself. He recalled the statement and
said he would add Stanton whom he be-
lieved was not stealing. Lincoln knew
Stanton was abusing him like dog, but
he didn't care. He had an idea that
Stanton was filling a hard place. Lovejoy
went to Stanton one day with message
from Lincoln. THE President is id
old fool y said Stanton. 'Whatn the Pres
ident a id old fool did you say?' asked
I INo, ,ro,,l;ol Sfon nfop ST cho11